It really takes me some time to come up with a new chapter... But I am continually working on it. Just be patient with me ;)

I hope you'll like it.

Chapter 7

After a dinner during which tensions had run high, Dooku made his way back to the lab, deciding to do some further research. He knew that Obi-Wan had told Padme and Qui-Gon about their plan today, and he hadn't liked the way the Queen had scrutinized him, and the fact that Qui-Gon didn't seem to be on their side either unnerved him even more than her disapproval. Didn't they understand that they had to take the risk? Weren't they able to see how exhausted Obi-Wan was? He heaved a deep sigh and asked himself why it was that he could see the truth clearer than the young Master's friends. Sidious was so powerful, and it was astonishing how long the Jedi had been able to hold out. But now his endurance was at an end. Their plan was risky and having help from the Jedi would be desirable, but they didn't have much time left. The Council would just stall.

The air left his lungs when he suddenly felt a dark ripple in the Force. Without hesitating, he turned around and ran into the direction the disturbance had come from.

Dinner had been awkward, and Qui-Gon didn't stay longer than necessary. He left for his quarters and decided to waste no time to talk to Master Yoda. The diminutive Master had supported him in his decision not to execute the plan before they had additional support. He had also informed him that Mace, Bail and Anakin were on their way to Naboo. He had suggested that Mace should prepare a report for the Council to persuade them to help Obi-Wan.

Qui-Gon leaned back contently. He was confident that he had convinced the ancient Master that they needed to do something. He had even sensed Yoda's exasperation at the Council's actions.

Suddenly he felt overwhelming Darkness coming over the bond with his former Padawan. Before he was able to close it, the Dark took hold of his mind, and he was choking, trying to get air, while a firm grip was strangling him.

Glad to be finally in his quarters, Obi-Wan sank down on his knees, knowing that he really needed to sort things out. He couldn't blame Qui-Gon and Padme for their objections. But sometimes it was as if they didn't understand the urgency of the situation. While they tried to find a solution, he was losing his strength, and he didn't know how much longer he would be able to hold out. He felt the Force pull him into meditation and gratefully let himself sink into a trance. Everything was peaceful, and he smiled at the warmth that was enveloping him. It had been some time that he had experienced this state of mind, and it would go a long way to help him against Sidious.

"No, it won't, my Obi-Wan," he heard the Dark Lord's voice, not muffled by any shields. Desperately he tried to pull out of his meditative state, but he couldn't escape the secure grip of the Darkness.

"You thought you could drive me out? You're using Dooku to beat me? How naïve are you? You think my apprentice would be strong enough to defeat me? No, my dear, you are mine, and now you will feel how powerful I am."

On instinct, Obi-Wan closed his bond to Anakin. The Darkness was too intense; he couldn't fight it. But when he tried to do the same with his connection to Qui-Gon, he realized that the Sith Lord was already there.

"I hoped you would come to your senses, but the Jedi have too strong a hold over you. You even defend them now. But I have other means to turn you. Just watch your Master die!" The picture of a choking Qui-Gon appeared before Obi-Wan, and it took all his strength not to cry out in despair. He gathered the Force around him and said with a firm voice: "What do you want?"

"I want you! I want to possess you! I want us to conquer the Galaxy together!"

The young Master took a deep breath. "Then let him go!"

"No, I am tired of waiting, and you need to be punished. You need to learn your place!" The Sith Lord's rage was all consuming, and Obi-Wan struggled to remain calm.

"If you kill him now, you will lose every chance of turning me. You are in my head; you know what I am feeling; just look!"

He felt Sidious' hold over the bond loosen slightly, and the next moment Obi-Wan closed it firmly.

A moment before he was losing consciousness, the grip of Darkness was suddenly gone, and Qui-Gon was able to breathe again. It took him a few minutes to realize what had happened. Sidious! Obi-Wan! Fighting the rising panic, he stood up and rushed over to the young man's room with Force-enhanced speed.

When Dooku entered Obi-Wan's quarters, he couldn't believe what he was seeing. The young Master was kneeling on the floor, and Dark Side energy was swirling around him. The Force manifested in a storm-like sensation, and Dooku had trouble moving forward. A voice was warning him to come near, and he knew it was the voice of Sidious.

Before he was able to decide what to do, Qui-Gon was behind him. "We need to help him!" The Jedi Master cried out, and Dooku had to grab his tunic to prevent him from just storming in.

"Wait! We can't just rush in like this. The fight is taking place in his mind. He is the only one who can take the lead in this. Think about what damage we could do!"

"How dare you?" The Sith Lord began to seethe when he realized he was tricked. "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you now!"

Obi-Wan stayed calm, knowing what he had to do to win this fight for now. "You could have done so long ago, but you haven't. That means you still have a purpose for me."

"Yes, but you're not fulfilling your purpose at the moment," Sidious answered, and his grip turned to Obi-Wan, trying to choke him. "I don't have any more use for you, but I need your body. I will crush your consciousness, and your friends can watch me conquer the Galaxy wearing your face!"

The young Master tried to get air, but the Dark Lord was holding him firmly. Fighting hard not to let fear get in the way, he began to draw on the Dark energy swirling around him and murmured a string of words.

"Stop!" the Sith Lord cried out, and his sudden panic added to the energy around them.

"Help me!" Obi-Wan sent over the bond with his former Master; then he focused solely on trapping Sidious into a far corner of his mind again.

"He's using Sith Magic to push him back," Dooku exclaimed, and the next moment Qui-Gon heard Obi-Wan cry out for help over the bond.

"What do I need to do?" he asked and moved toward his former Padawan.

"The darkness overwhelms him. You have to battle it with light," his former Master instructed, and Qui-Gon began to concentrate.

The storm of Darkness around Obi-Wan began to engulf him, and he took all of it in, his body trembling at the unusual sensation. It was incredibly powerful, and it took him just a blink of an eye to close the shields around Sidious. The last thing he heard was a chuckle accompanied by a few words that made him shiver. "I knew you would be exceptional." Then the Sith Lord was silent.

But the fight was far from over. The young man felt the dark energy spreading into every vein of his body and with it came a sense of strength he hadn't experienced before. That was the way to defeat the Sith. No Jedi technique had ever trapped the Dark Lord that efficiently.

He always had been anxious to let Darkness rule his actions, but now he started to ask himself if that was right. Why should he refuse this power, the power to get rid of Sidious, the power to free the Galaxy from this threat once and for all? He took a deep breath and examined the cage he had built around the Sith. If he were to let him loose again, he should be able to kill him.

"Stop!" he heard a voice in his mind far away. Bewildered, he tried to locate it. "Concentrate on my voice, and come back, Obi-Wan," the voice was commanding, and with it came a wave of Light that hurt his head.

"Why would I do that?" he asked and tried to shy away from the Light.

"Because deep in your heart, you know that this is wrong. Come back to me, Padawan!" He turned around and saw Qui-Gon standing there, his hand reaching out to him. "You have to come with me!" the Jedi Master pleaded.

"I can kill him, Qui-Gon," Obi-Wan replied with agitation. "Why would I pass such an opportunity?"

Qui-Gon closed his eyes briefly in concentration. "Because you're better than this, and because you know better. The Darkness is deceiving you. There is no way to kill him. You must see it. You would just set him free again."

Somehow, he couldn't deny his former Master. Slowly he shoved the wave of Darkness away, and when Qui-Gon added strands of Light around him, he saw the truth plainly. Suddenly the dark energy around him felt like he was burning alive. He gasped for air and desperately grabbed Qui-Gon's hand.

"Focus on Anakin and Padme!" The Master exclaimed, and he complied, filling his mind with the love he felt for them. Then everything went black.

The journey from Kamino to Naboo took way too long for Bail's liking. The two Jedi he was traveling with were both restless, and the young Senator was at a loss at what to do with them. Anakin was refusing to tell his interim Master what he had seen in his vision, and Mace Windu lacked any understanding of the boy's predicament.

Bail was really looking forward to meeting Obi-Wan. He was sure that the young man would be able to sort things out between those two. He hadn't been able to mediate their conflict. Even if Master Windu was able to realize that the Padawan was in an awkward position, having experienced an alarming vision without having his Master to deal with it, the Korun-Master had insisted that as the responsible Master at the time he had a right to know what was plaguing the young man. It was apparent that the Jedi Master was preparing Anakin for a permanent relationship with him, and the Padawan seemed to sense that. Naturally, he was rebelling, because he missed Obi-Wan and wanted him back as soon as possible.

He was startled out of his thoughts when the Jedi Master in question came into the galley with a frustrated sigh. "Another futile attempt then," Bail said and looked up from the couch.

The Master gave him a brief nod and began to pace up and down.

"Don't you think, it would be wiser to just act with a bit more understanding of Anakin's situation? I mean, you haven't been very successful with playing the strict Master," Bail tried one more time to reason with the Korun-Master.

The expression on Windu's face changed to incredulity at this forthcoming comment. He wasn't used to being criticized by a civilian, but Bail wasn't intimidated by that. He had come to learn enough about the Jedi over the last few years, and while he respected their ways, he never lost sight of their flaws either. In his opinion, they still lacked a certain amount of compassion, and this conflict was proof of that.

"I really don't know what you mean," Master Windu responded, surprising the Senator. He had expected a dismissal.

"Anakin's situation is difficult. He just had a disturbing vision, and his first instinct is to turn to his Master. But he isn't here, and instead of accepting his predicament you're pressuring him."

Mace shook his head. "I want to help him. Everyone can see how confused he is because of what he saw. He isn't ready to deal with these things on his own."

"Oh, I understand that. But you don't give the young man the impression that you want to help him. You are trying to put your place in his life over Obi-Wan's role, and the poor boy is insecure about your motive."

"I don't understand," the Korun-Master replied, and Bail had the impression that he was developing a real interest in what he had to say.

"Yes, that's the problem, and Anakin can feel that. You're not talking to him; you're giving orders. He feels that he's doing right by his Master by not telling you. Now, I am not sure why he would think that. But as long as he does, you won't get anything from him. The only thing that is happening right now is you doing a lot of damage to your mutual relationship."

"He shouldn't act out of loyalty to Obi-Wan but do what he has to do as a Jedi," Mace stated, but even to him it sounded shallow.

"Master Windu, I know this isn't my place. The Council's decisions are a Jedi affair, but excuse me when I must ask you this. This boy just witnessed how you rejected his Master who desperately needed help. You even expelled him. . ." He held up his hand when the Korun-Master moved to protest. "You can call it whatever you want, it sure feels like expulsion. It certainly must feel like that for Anakin. Force, you even forbid him to contact Obi-Wan. In this situation, he has a disturbing vision. Whatever he saw, his reaction tells me that the Dark Side was involved. And you expect him to trust you? Added to that you're talking to him as if he has to choose between you and the man he trusts and loves. No, I don't believe, that this can work." Bail took a deep breath, waiting for the reaction that was sure to come now. He was aware of the fact that he had overstepped his boundaries entirely here.

Master Windu closed his eyes in concentration, and Bail had to fight a smile. He knew this expression too well. It was the same one, Obi-Wan took on when communing with the Force.

The Korun-Master gave him a nod. "I must admit, Senator, that your honesty surprises me. But I think you could have a point. The Force surely encourages me to follow your advice. So, I have to thank you." He turned around suddenly, his eyes widening.

"What's wrong?" Bail asked as the Master bolted out of the door.

"Anakin. . ." Mace responded, and the next moment he was already gone.

Bail followed him swiftly. When he arrived at the Padawan's quarters, he was greeted by the same image he had seen on Kamino. Mace was kneeling beside Anakin, trying to calm him down. One more vision?

"Master!" Anakin cried out, and Bail knew he didn't speak to Mace but was calling out for Obi-Wan.

The Korun-Master seemed to fight with something too, placing his hand on his temples in pain.

The Senator moved toward them and shook the Councilor's shoulder slightly. "Master Windu, can I help?"

Mace looked up and shook his head. "It's Obi-Wan. I felt a wave of Darkness, but it's gone now."

"He closed the bond," Anakin said flatly, his exhaustion evident. "Sidious must have broken through his shields again. It was terrible."

It made Bail shiver. He just hoped that his Jedi friend was all right.

Padme was on her way to Obi-Wan's room, determined to make things right between them. She had loathed the moment he had left after dinner, knowing that he couldn't cope with her and Qui-Gon's disapproval any longer, and she was convinced that he needed their support more than ever. She was struggling with her fear for him, but he had taught her a long time ago not to let fear dominate her actions. He had counted on that when he had revealed his plans to her. But in the end, her emotions had prevented her from doing the right thing. Even worse, she had known instantly that this was a mistake, and she hadn't done anything about the tension during dinner, giving him the impression that Dooku was his only support.

She was startled out of her thoughts when she heard Qui-Gon and Dooku shouting. Alarmed, she opened the door and felt the air leaving her lungs at what she saw. Obi-Wan was lying motionless on the ground, while Qui-Gon was leaning over him, trembling with apparent exhaustion. Dooku was standing over them, his face frozen in shock.

She briefly closed her eyes trying to fight her anxiety. Obi-Wan was alive. She didn't know how she could be so sure about it, but she was. Without hesitation, she moved forward, realizing that the men in the room somehow couldn't act. She knelt beside the young Jedi and noticed with satisfaction that he was breathing. Granted it wasn't his usual steady breathing but a slightly disturbed one, interrupted by an occasional shudder. She looked up to Dooku, who seemed to have gathered himself now. "Go get a medic! My handmaidens will be able to help you," she said with a voice that brooked no argument.

He gave her a nod and after a moment he was gone. She took Obi-Wan's hand and squeezed it, hoping he would be able to feel her support in his state. Then she gave Qui-Gon a look to check on him. The older Jedi was holding his head in pain, but apart from that, he seemed all right. "What happened here?" she asked, hoping that Qui-Gon would be able to answer.

He took a deep breath, and began to explain, "Sidious. . . He attacked me through our bond. Somehow, Obi-Wan saved me, but he had to use Sith Magic to push him back."

She held her breath, squeezing the young man's hand even firmer.

"It was terrible, Padme," the Jedi Master said, fighting to get his emotions under control. "He was consumed by Darkness. I had to pull him back."

She felt Obi-Wan starting to tremble, and his hand was getting cold. "Give me the blanket over there," she said, and Qui-Gon complied handing it to her. Carefully she wrapped it around the young Master with difficulty, because he was suddenly gripping her hand with desperation. She hushed him, stroking his face to calm him down. "I am here," she said, her voice steady. "Everything will be all right." She gave Qui-Gon a pointed look, and it seemed to shake him out of his state of shock. He took the young man's other hand and closed his eyes in concentration. She assumed that he was trying to soothe his former Padawan through their bond and just a moment later the trembling lessened. Obi-Wan took a shuddering breath, and then he opened his eyes, looking at Padme, apparently trying to focus.

She smiled at him and leaned down, kissing his forehead. "Hello there," she said, fighting her tears of relief.

He whispered a faint, "Hello," back at her and squeezed her hand briefly. Then he turned his head to his former Master, and the grateful shimmer in his eyes told her that he had just thanked him telepathically for helping him.

"You're welcome, my Padawan," Qui-Gon confirmed that to her. "I'm just glad that you're all right. You scared us for a moment there. "

"A medic should be here any minute now," Padme told them, her voice regaining strength.

Obi-Wan tried to move up at this, but she prevented him from doing so. "You have to stay put," she said sternly. "You're still in shock, and I want you checked out before you move."

Qui-Gon chuckled, and she gave him a questioning glance. "Oh, he says he is all right," the Jedi said. "But he won't fight you when you're bossy." It earned him a reproachful look from his former Padawan, but it made Padme laugh.

"You shouldn't," she said with a raised eyebrow. "And the fact that you can't talk properly yet should be reason enough to take it slowly."

He gave her a resigned nod, and replied in a raspy voice, "I can talk. It's just very exhausting to do so."

"Well, then don't do it," she told him and shook her head in exasperation. "You 're not all powerful, you know."

At this moment, the medic arrived followed by Sabe and Dooku. Padme waved him over to check on the Jedi. After a few minutes, he looked up and gave the Queen a satisfied nod. "He is in shock, but he should recover quickly. We should get him to bed. A good night's sleep will help."

Qui-Gon stood up and motioned Dooku over to help him do as the medic suggested.

Meanwhile, Padme thanked Sabe and the medic. Then she returned to Obi-Wan's side instantly.

Dooku still seemed rattled by what he had seen, and as she realized that the former Jedi wasn't ready to leave yet, she turned to Qui-Gon, "Why don't you two sit down over there while I order some tea."

The older Jedi shook his head. "No, we're going to take our tea in my quarters and leave you two alone. I am sure Obi-Wan can use the rest, and you should stay with him." Without waiting for her reply, he took Dooku with him and left.

The moment they were gone, Obi-Wan let out a relieved sigh and moved to sit up on his bed.

She shook her head. "I told you. . . ."

"I am all right, Padme," he replied, his voice soft. "I just need to rest. But I want to enjoy your company for a while if you don't mind."

She smiled and moved closer to him. He placed his arm over her shoulders and pulled her toward him, apparently looking for her warmth. She was more than happy to lend it to him.

It was early in the morning when Bail, Mace and Anakin arrived on Naboo. Qui-Gon informed them about what had occurred the evening before, and they were relieved to learn that Obi-Wan was recovering for now.

Mace was eager to discuss their further proceedings with Qui-Gon, while Anakin took over Padme's place at Obi-Wan's bed. The young Queen had left reluctantly and was now having breakfast with Bail. She told him how Obi-Wan had used the Dark Side to push Sidious back and that Qui-Gon was concerned that his former Padawan had been a bit too fascinated by the power he had wielded in that instant.

Bail had to admit that most of the time he wasn't able to grasp the concept behind the separation of the two sides of the Force. For him, it was a truth of life that good and evil existed in all things, and he noticed that the young Queen had similar views. He voiced his difficulties to her, and she gave him a nod.

"I am struggling with their views, too," she confirmed his assumption. "I can't condemn Obi-Wan for using Dark Side techniques to deal with Sidious. It was obvious how much he was struggling with the constant voice in his mind. After having him pushed back yesterday, he was exhausted, but I've never seen him that content ever since Sidious has invaded his mind. Why should it be wrong to do that?"

Bail thought this over. "Qui-Gon once told me that a Jedi has a responsibility not to use the Dark Side because of the damage he could do when being consumed by it. But sometimes, I wonder if the Jedi reject everything remotely Dark out of fear. How can they make an actual choice, if they do not know the other side? How can they fight the Dark, if they don't know what it does to someone who is using it?"

"They can't," Padme stated. "They aren't equipped for this fight. They let their fellow Master struggle with his problem over years until he couldn't bear it any longer. I am certain that their instincts told them that they wouldn't be able to help him with their means. And now? He really needs their support to do what is necessary, and the only one who stands firmly on his side is Dooku. Their fear is stronger than their need to solve this problem. They make this even more difficult for Obi-Wan."

"Well, if they decide not to help him, we must do it in their stead," Bail said with determination. "I won't stand by and watch my friend suffering any longer."

She heaved a deep sigh. "I am with you in this. But there are things we just can't do. We don't have a bond with him as Qui-Gon does. We can't reach him when he is consumed. We need the Jedi to anchor him in the Light."

He shook his head at that. "I don't believe that. You can't talk with him over a bond, but he feels you. Force, he even is able to read my mind occasionally. You and your love can anchor him, and if Qui-Gon is willing to help, I am sure we will be able to do this."

His words seemed to give her the confidence she didn't have before. Determined she stood up. "You're right," she said and turned to leave. "I am going to make a few arrangements to prepare my departure. I stood by long enough. It's time to get involved,"

He gave her a smile; this was the woman, Obi-Wan had fallen in love with. If the Council-members weren't supporting the young Jedi, Padme would do so on her own.

Mace Windu was shocked to hear about Sidious' invasion of Obi-Wan's mind. But he was even more agitated by the plan Dooku was presenting him with now. After Qui-Gon had barely been able to pull Obi-Wan back from the Darkness the evening before, the former Jedi proposed that they let the young man take an even higher risk. He listened incredulously to Qui-Gon detailing the plan.

"Obi-Wan had to use an incredible amount of power to push Sidious into a mental cage," the older Master analyzed at the end of his explanation. "I don't think that he will be able to push him out on his own. He is going to need Dooku's help. Which makes it mandatory to have someone help me anchor them both, as well as a pair of Jedi who traps Sidious in the Holocron." He gave the Korun-Master an expectant look, hoping for his support,

Mace shook his head. "Let me get this straight. You're suggesting that we help him push Sidious out, making not only him vulnerable but all of us?"

"Well, I don't see another solution, Mace," Qui-Gon replied softly.

Mace gave him a disbelieving glance. "I can't believe we're even discussing this. I was able to feel how far Obi-Wan was gone yesterday, and you want to push him even further? Why would we do this?"

Dooku gave him a snort. "Why?" he asked, not able to hide his exasperation any longer. "I can tell you why. Because if we don't do this now, Obi-Wan will crack someday soon. Your precious Jedi Master has reached his limit. He is slowly breaking from the inside. You think that his shields prevented Sidious from doing any damage over the last three years. But you're wrong. He kept him out, but my former Master had years to linger in his mind, doing anything he wanted. Do you really think that would be without consequences? He created enough fault lines to break him. He just needs an opportunity, and as time progresses, it will be more exhausting not to grant him one. So, if you want to keep your price, you have to shove aside your dogmatic views for once and do something!"

Mace was startled at Dooku's raised voice. But he wasn't convinced that easily. "And why would you be so hell-bent on helping him?"

That earned him an eye-roll from the former Jedi. "Oh, we're back to this discussion then. I thought we had established the fact that I am on Obi-Wan's side. But to give you one more reason, I am not keen on having Sidious back, and I surely do not want him back within a Jedi who has Obi-Wan's powers. No, Master Windu, this Galaxy isn't prepared for a Sith like Sidious with Obi-Wan's exceptional strength in the Force!"

Mace eyes widened at that. "You mean, he really could take over?"

Qui-Gon closed his eyes in concentration, then he stated calmly, "He will take over. And it won't take him long. Dooku's right. He just has to get out one more time. He already tried yesterday, and it was only thanks to our research into Sith Magic that Obi-Wan was able to prevail. You have to reconsider how you're dealing with this. The Council has to determine whether they want to help us or not. I made up my mind, and I am sure I will find several Jedi to support us. I won't stand by and watch while my former Padawan continues to suffer from this."

Mace swallowed thickly. Then he gave them an accepting nod. "I am going to discuss this with Master Yoda and the Council. But," his gaze shifted to Qui-Gon, "you must promise me that we're going to leave Anakin out of it. I know that Dooku here thinks that the boy's bond with his Master can help us. I don't want my Padawan involved in this. He is too young to stand up against someone like Sidious."

Dooku raised his eyebrows. "Last I checked Anakin was Obi-Wan's Padawan, and you're right; I am convinced that a bond of such power would help a great deal in anchoring not only Obi-Wan but also Qui-Gon. So, why don't we let Anakin and his Master decide what to do?"

"Because Obi-Wan trusted me to take his place as Anakin's Master while he is dealing with Sidious. He did that to protect the boy, and I am keeping my promise to him."

Qui-Gon huffed out an annoyed breath. "Will you two stop it? Let's talk to Obi-Wan and Anakin about this. In the end, we need to decide what's best for both. And I doubt that my former Padawan will do anything that proves to be a risk for the boy, Mace."

When Obi-Wan slowly came awake, he felt his Padawan's presence nearby, and a faint smile appeared on his face. He opened his eyes and saw Anakin watching him.

"Good morning, Master," the boy said with a brilliant smile on his lips. "You look better than expected."

Obi-Wan chuckled and moved up, gratefully taking the cup of tea his Padawan handed him. "Good morning, Anakin," he replied and took a sip. "I haven't had such a good sleep in a long time." He gave the young man a scrutinizing look. "Well, the same doesn't apply to you, I guess."

Anakin shook his head, and his face dropped. "No, Master," he shifted uncomfortably, and Obi-Wan took his hand, squeezing it with reassurance. "Tell me," the Master said with a soft voice. "What happened?"

It was apparent that Anakin struggled with his words and Obi-Wan waited patiently for him to begin. "I. . . It was a vision I had, Master," the young man finally spoke up. "It was terrible! I. . . Uhm. . . I was on Mustafar . . ."

"I'm sorry," his Master said, sure that he already knew what was coming. "Sounds more like a nightmare than a vision."

"No," the boy replied with vehemence. "It wasn't like that. I. . . It's. . . I mean, this time it was me fighting the Sith, not you."

Obi-Wan frowned. "Who were you fighting?" he asked, his instinct telling him that there lay the problem.

"It was Luan. It played out exactly as we know, but instead of you and me, it was Luan and me. And I was in your place."

Obi-Wan knew that this wasn't what had disturbed his Padawan so profoundly. He decided to wait until Anakin had revealed everything.

"In the end, her Master, her Sith Master I mean, came to her help. It was. . . It was you. . ." Anakin's eyes were glistening with tears, and he took a shaky breath. "Then you closed our bond yesterday, and all I could feel was this Darkness. I was so afraid!"

The Master gave him an understanding nod. "You thought your vision was coming true." He sighed deeply. Anakin shouldn't have to deal with this. But the young man had always been prone to visions, in his former life as well as now. Obi-Wan tried not to think about the fact that they often came true. He refused to believe that he would be able to fall into the Dark permanently. "Did you talk to Mace about this?" he asked, hoping that Anakin had taken the help he needed.

The young man shook his head. "How could I? They already expelled you because they fear what you do here. If I told them, that there was even the remotest possibility of you falling . . ."

"Anakin," Obi-Wan stated firmly. "You don't have to protect me. I appreciate your loyalty, but it is not needed if you suffer from it."

"I didn't suffer," the boy said fiercely.

Obi-Wan lifted an eyebrow at this. "You didn't? Well, it seems to me that you didn't sleep since you had this vision, and I am sure that Mace would not have taken it lightly that you weren't ready to share what you saw."

Anakin's lips lifted in a faint smile. "No, he didn't. In fact, we argued a lot about it."

The Master gave him a snort at that. "I can imagine. Anakin, he is your Master in his own right if I am not there. He is responsible for you, and he takes that very seriously. He could have helped you."

"He could?" Anakin asked, his voice unbelieving. "The way he helps you? What did he do to convince the Council to support you in this?"

"These are two different things. No matter what happens to me, Mace would never let his feelings about it prevent him from doing his duty toward you."

"How can I know that? You had to deal with all of this on your own for three years. He never even tried to do something. . ."

"I am a Master, Anakin; it is expected that I can deal with those things. It is not expected of you. Believe me, if anyone can help you while I'm not there, it's Mace Windu. He has his own demons to handle. He uses Vaapad to channel the Dark Side within him. He isn't the one who denies the existence of both sides of the Force. He just has to consider the Council to maintain his position. But if it comes to helping you as his Padawan, he would never reject you. He leaned forward and took the young man in his arms. "Apart from that, we can't know if what you've seen is true. Maybe it wasn't even me you saw in your vision."

"But I saw you. "Anakin replied his voice muffled by Obi-Wan's tunics.

"You saw my face," the Master said in a flat voice. "We discovered that Sidious could be able to take over my body. He tried it yesterday. Maybe you really saw him."

Anakin leaned back, shock over this revelation written all over his face. "How is that better? I still would lose you!"

Obi-Wan swallowed down the lump forming in his throat. There it was; written all over Anakin's face was naked fear, fear of losing someone he loved. All the changes hadn't done anything against that. What would the boy do if presented with the same choice again? He shook his head. No, this wasn't his former Anakin. This young man was still able to learn how to cope with the loss. He leaned forward and placed his arm around the Padawan's shoulders. "I understand, Anakin. Believe me, I do. I've lost everyone once, everyone I loved, everything that gave me purpose. But in the end, I was able to go on, because all these people, all these values, they didn't go away. They went on living in me, and it was my job to live on for them, to do what they needed me to do. . ."

The fear in Anakin's eyes was replaced by determination and Obi-Wan was relieved that he seemed to have reached him. This battle was far from over. It wouldn't be before the young man would suffer a profound loss. But they had come a long way in comparison to his former life.

"I still don't want to lose you," the Padawan said, but the overwhelming fear was gone for now. "At least not to this stupid Sith in your head."

Obi-Wan had to laugh, imagining how Sidious would react to that in his cage. He was well aware of the fact that Sidious could still feel, hear and see everything that was happening. He wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating the Dark Lord again. "Well, then let's work together that this doesn't happen, my Padawan," he said and was glad to see Anakin smile at that.